Girlguiding to drop overseas branches

Jan 28, 2024

Outside the doors of the New Life Baptist Church, about 20 brownie scouts wore their iconic sashes and uniforms, waiting to be led inside by rainbow scout S’Zalyia Maduro. On cue, their families and friends applauded as the girls stepped into a promise ceremony for new members.

The young Girl Guides then took turns promising to uphold the scouts’ values, after which troop leaders pinned a new marker to their sashes. The girls also demonstrated their dancing and singing skills, harmonising with a rendition of "This Little Light of Mine."

Girlguiding offers youngsters training in skills like cooking, sewing and camping — and it also teaches them to give back to the community. But the future of the territory's Girl Guides is uncertain following a recent announcement from the United Kingdom-based Girlguiding headquarters that its overseas operations will end in September, cutting off resources for groups like the one based here.

VI Commissioner Larissa Mapp told the Beacon that regional leaders were shocked by the announcement.

She also expressed dismay that a decision affecting thousands of members in volunteer-led overseas groups was made by 11 senior executives who she said were not receptive to any debate.

"They are very much standing firm on their decision," she said. "They are not about to change it, no matter what points we have brought forward. So you can imagine the feelings of hurt and confusion we’re feeling, and feeling a little disrespected. We are part of a big community, and we should have a say in the decisions that are being made."

In hopes of avoiding negative effects on the Girlguiding programme here, VI branch leaders are seeking ways to maintain their activities even after they get cut off from UK resources.

They are not alone. The overseas arm of the volunteer-led organisation serves communities in 36 countries and territories and has about 2,600 members.

But just three executive members, including Girlguiding CEO Angela Salt, made the public announcement on April 19, explaining that the decision was based on risk management concerns.

"[British Girlguiding Overseas], including guiding for girls who live in British overseas territories, has been a valued part of Girlguiding UK for much of our 113-year history," they wrote. "Thousands of incredible volunteers have provided fun, friendship and adventure for girls who are living overseas. Girlguiding UK would like to thank everyone involved over the years for showing girls a world of opportunities big and small."

Ms. Mapp said the decision comes at a particularly unfortunate time for the VI group, which has been pushing to grow this year as part of a comeback after its Road Town headquarters were damaged by the 2017 hurricanes.

However, she said leaders will do their best to ease the transition to a new future of scouting in the territory.

Like Ms. Mapp, other regional leaders have expressed their dismay at the decision, and some are working to change executive leaders’ minds.

The British Girlguiding Overseas Executive, the suborganisation that oversees scout activities outside the UK, also issued a statement expressing "immense shock and sadness" about the decision made by the Girlguiding Board of Trustees in the UK.

The statement stressed the overseas programme's commitment to safely serving communities since its establishment in 1911.

"Our leaders have always worked extra hard to keep their units compliant with the standards set by Girlguiding in the UK and additionally in the countries that host them," the BGO Executive wrote. "To this end, our safety record is exemplary."

VI members said they felt similarly.

Ms. Mapp, who heads the VI branch as one of the youngest leaders in the region, said she learned the news in a joint phone call with commissioners in early April but had to wait two weeks to discuss the decision publicly.

"We were very surprised," she said. "Every year, we have to pay subscription fees to the UK so they will cover insurance and materials, and all of the programmes and trainings we have access to. In February, we paid this lump sum of money, and then in the beginning of April: ‘No, this isn't happening anymore.’"

She added that the decision will take full effect on Sept. 1, which she said is poor timing considering that many members meet during the school year.

One of the senior leadership's main arguments for ending the relationship is that various countries and territories have vastly different laws on subjects like child endangerment, Ms. Mapp said. However, she added that the VI delegation always follows the strictest of rules on such issues.

When the Beacon reached out to Girlguiding headquarters for comment, the only reply was an already published statement about the planned dissolution.

Some overseas members are still pushing back, and an online petition urging the leadership to reverse the decision is circulating.

An update published on April 25 indicated that no one from the organisation had contacted the petition organisers, but it stated that the senior leaders were aware of the petition.

As of May 23, change.org listed 15,565 signatures supporting a reversal.

Members have also taken to social media, using the hashtag #sailingwithBGO to share memories of ways the programme has benefitted communities worldwide.

Carima Wilson Solomon, who attended the May 21 ceremony for her daughter Chloe Rose Solomon, said she was a scout as a child.

Ms. Wilson Solomon added that she was excited for her daughter to have the experience of becoming a rainbow scout a year ago and then growing into a brownie.

"I think it's important for it to continue, because the dynamics of our society have changed, so it's important for our young people to have positive role models in the persons that guide them," she said.

Ms. Mapp said that for the time being, the VI programme will look the same. But leaders are still trying to determine what they will do come September.

Girlguiding proposed four main options for groups moving forward, according to a May 2 Facebook post. Those options include lone guiding; working with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts; becoming an independent charity; or joining other guiding overseas organisations.

The UK organisation promised to share more detailed information about these options with volunteers later this month.

Ms. Mapp said VI members are interested in potentially becoming a state member of WAGGGS, but they would have to work to meet the group's specific requirements and wait to be voted in during the next world conference in 2026.

In the meantime, she said the VI group would be able to continue as a non-governmental organisation in the territory.

"What changes is our lack of resources," she said. "We will not have as much access to the UK programme. So we may have to create our own programmes that align with the Girlguiding philosophy."

Ms. Mapp said the main organisation provides both financial resources and guidance for activities. BGO also offers opportunities for countries to apply for grants and funding, including financial support for international travel to Girlguiding events.

Additionally, BGO maintains a "hardship fund" to help participants with yearly subscriptions and provide other financial assistance.

In addition to programming, the VI group may soon see some changes in facilities.

Ms. Mapp has been pushing to get repairs done on the hurricane-damaged VI headquarters, especially on the roof and windows. She said the group had been seeking the necessary permissions to rebuild the facility near the BVI Red Cross.

The Recovery and Development Agency, however, requested that they wait to pursue the repairs because of redevelopment planned in the area, she said. Their group, she added, will be included as a stakeholder moving forward.

Though the organisation is going through significant transitions, Ms. Mapp said the girls are still meeting weekly with the support of dedicated leaders.

"I think these challenges help us to grow, help us to figure out what we can really do on our own," she said.

The VI group supports the petition to have the organisation's decision reversed, she added, noting that members will work to ensure the continuation of community programmes no matter what happens.